i couldnt get my cotters out either. THe more you bang on it with a hammer the more screwed you are going to be. If you wreck the bottom bracket and the bearings by using a hammer good luck finding another french set. DO NOT Hammer on it. IF you dont know how to get it apart ....take to to someone who does before you ruin it. That is about the only advice i can give. Ive been through the same thing. I ended up using a cut off blade on a angle grinder and cut mine at the bb axle. Took 2 seconds and no damage. YOu will have to get another bottom bracket axle but that isnt a big deal.